Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-06-01


the refusal OF II at $4,000. They arc aoou,
TO close the bargain. Now, II we can Offer
$4,000 cash it's ours II is dirt-cheap, but
Perkins has got squeezed on Change and
can't raise money In any other way for mar
gins. He has got to have tho cash by two
o'clock. Now, II you'll run out hero with
me-
~ run out there-are you cracked, mani"
roared the millionaire "Dont you know
that there's something very much like a
panic on changer
''Why, no, I hadn't heard OF IT, Well,
then send out some agent Of yours with
your check for $4,000 or the right to draw
on you for that amount"
'The deucei I hain't got no time TO
| bother.n
| He scratched his head angrily, then drew
a check for the required amount and handed
IL TO Wachtmeistcr. "You run out and
settle the thing yourself,"h said. 81 know
the property. II is worth the money. l
know, too, that Perkins is in tight place
| You'd better hurry"
"But couldn't you send Lawson along
with met"
"You just clear out. Do you suppose
can spare Lawson on o day like thisi'
Gan right You'll hear from me to-mor-
row.
Wachtmeister foldedthe check, put 1t into
his pocket book, and rushed out as breath
lessly as he had come. IL was the last time
Mr. Hardness had the pleasure OF gazing
upon his countenance He learned by chance
the next day that the Oakland property had
not been sold and that no bid had been made
for 1t by his Teutonic protege. But man
OF twenty millions consoles himself easily.
"a smart chap" he said to himself, nod
ding approvingly; ION the whole IL was not
bad investment. The mere experience was
worth $4,000, with the fun thrown in"
".
II was in the early winter of 1882 that
visitor was announced to Miss Hatcher
Schrader. She gave a few decorative
touches to her person before the mirror re-
arranged her hair with a critical eye, and
then burst with headlong ardor into the I'd
joining room and flung herselfinto the arms
of her visitor. She became conscious, how
ever, before regaiping the perpendicular
state that his enthusiasm was scarcely
equal to her own.
"Well, Max, she said, conccaling her dis
appointment, 'tell me the story OF your ad-
ventures
Instead Of answering Max pulled from his
pocket package OF papers which he I'M
folded and carefully spread out upon the
the aggregate value of at least $4,000.
Katchen's eyes grew big and radiant as
she contemplated the possibilities of happi-
ness contained in these prosaic figures. 10,
Max, my dear Max ~ she cried delightedly;
''you are rich man! How do love you
But tell me how you made so much money"
IL made my experiment in transgression-"
Eyes, but how did you make it,"
SPY the aid Of my science"
"Now don't be provoking What did you
do!n
~ asserted the power Of an intellect, the
value of which, for practical purposes, you
had the kindness to question"
20, l shall go mad, Max, If you don't
tell me-" exclaimed the girl. "Do have pity
on mer'
"Very well, will tell you, not because
you deserve my confidence, but in order to
prove to you that the poverty 10 which the
devotec OF science dooms himself is volun
tary Que, and on that account sublime. The
strictcr moral law which Mr.. Harbtsch and
his like ignore with impunity |, too, could
ignore and be wealthy as they To be
scoundrel and go to Jail for it requires no
great intellect; but to make safe and
profitable experiment in transgression is
quite another thing"
The story was then told, a part of which
we have already heard; how Max happened
to cross in the steamer with a Dutch pro-
fessor, who had served two years SEN
tence for counterfeting; how he had as
sumed his name after possessing himself Of
all the facts of his history, and in San
Francisco successfully played the part Of
an alchemist. He had invested his paternal
inheritance of about 5000 in the expert
ment; had bought metallic gold, which he
had reduced to precipitate with sulphate
of iron, and represented it in a finely
divided state as a black sand, which an
expert would readily have recognized as
gold, but which wou1 easily deceive men
with no chemical knowledge. When he
related the story of the check and the ex-
actness with which, by his insight into
human nature, he could predict the actions
of IL man and allay his suspicious, Katchen's
eyes sparkled with amusement
so, Max, my dear Max" she calculated,
laughingly, II never dreamed that you were
so CLEVER
''But l." he responded, with uncomfort.
able seriousness, II gave you credit for
being u great deal clevcrer."
"What do you mean by thatP'
''You seem TO have forgotten that this
was a mere experiment in transgrcssion."
''Do you mean to say you won't keep the
money!'
Eyes; have already tclegraphed to Mr.
Hardness informing him that the sum of
$4,000 will tomorrow be awaiting his or
der in the Imperial Bank of Germany.
20, Max, you don't mean it!'
The pretty, laughing face became sudden
Iva picture of dsmay.
"Thcre is copy of the cablegram."
Max flung with visible disgust piece OF
paper on the table, then gathered up his
4 a.,
seized the paper aud read:
Undersigned hopes you forgive rough practi.
cal Joke. Amount OF check awaits order Impe
rial Bank. WACHTMEIsTER.
"Then you have gained nothing at all by
your clcverncss," she said. brushing tear
from the corner of her eye.
YES" he replied, with pitiless gravity;
~ have been saved from the mistake OF
sharing my life with one who despised my
noble calling and was ready to wink at
transgrossion.n
DR.. Max Semmler made a erofound bow
1t